de Valera:
As you may know, we have had some communication from the British side.
There is a slim possibility that they might want to talk. But our
tactics allow the British press to paint us as murderers. If we are to
negotiate as a legitimate government our armed forces must act like a
legitimate army.
Collins: What exactly
do you mean, Dev?
de Valera:
I mean large-scale engagements.
Collins: You mean like
in 1916. The great, heroic ethic of failure.
All marching in step towards
slaughter.
Why don’t we save them all the bother and blow our own brains out.
Cathal Brugha: How dare
you!
Collins: How do you
think we’ve got them to this point? Where they’ll even consider talking?
We’ve brought them to their knees the only way we could.
de Valera: They call
us murderers.
Collins: War is
murder, sheer bloody murder. If you’d been here for the last year, you’d
know that.
de Valera: I propose
an assault on the administrative center of
British rule in Ireland: The Customs House.
